Washington media is in full roar over the Cheney sister Facebook fight.
Last night, reporters began gurgling about the Cheney sisters fighting over same-sex marriage. On Facebook, no less. Because Facebook is just intended for family and friends and is private, right?
The players: Liz Cheney is running for senator in Wyoming. Mary Cheney is married to Heather Poe, who is irritated by Liz’s lack of support for gay marriage on Fox News Sunday and bitched her out on Facebook.
From ThinkProgress‘s Editor-in-Chief Judd Legum at 8:49 p.m. last night: “Looks like it’ll be an awkward Thanksgiving for the Cheneys.” And Politico‘s Lois Romano at 8:54 p.m.: “Big Tension on Facebook b/ Liz & Mary Cheney & Mary’s wife Heather Poe. Poe says Liz’s anti-gay marriage comments ‘offensive’ @politico.”
This morning, we have a cornucopia of stories on the matter, and the cable networks are going wild. With nothing else to dwell on — Miley is keeping her dog tongue in her mouth just for today — the Cheney sisters are it.
So who did it best, and more importantly, whose coverage was worst?
Most boring headline – it’s a four-way tie
Politico: “Liz Cheney criticized by sister.” (Yaaawwwnnn.)
NYT: “Dispute over gay marriage erupts in Cheney family.” (Pretty blah.)
The Hill: “Gay marriage splits Cheney sisters”
“Cheney sisters spar over gay marriage on social media”
Best headlines (for Washington)
Washington Post: “Cheney sisters trade barbs over same-sex marriage.”
The Washington Times: “Cheney sisters trade barbs in public gay marriage spat.”
Catchy headline
“Liz Cheney hit by sister for opposing sister on gay marriage. Will it matter in Wyoming?” — Christian Science Monitor
Nonsensical headline
“Gay marriage dispute causing bitter rift between Cheney sisters” — Mediaite. (Can a rift be anything but bitter?)
Who wrote it first?
The NYT‘s Jonathan Martin. His greatest line is his last: “At Christmas, the whole Cheney clan will head to the Jackson Hole area in Wyoming, where Liz Cheney now lives. But Mary Cheney said of her sister, ‘I will not be seeing her.'”
Best info?
The NYT was (from what we could find) the only outlet to land original comments from Mary and Liz Cheney.
Decent followup
The story by Politico‘s James Hohmann is an excellent recap of the whole thing. He even politely cites the NYT for being first to report the big Washington news.
Decent ledes
“The Cheneys don’t see eye-to-eye on the issue of gay marriage. After Liz Cheney reiterated her opposition on the Sunday morning talk shows, her sister and her sister’s partner took the Republican hopeful to the woodshed in separate Facebook posts.” — The Atlantic Wire.
“Talk about a family feud: Former vice president Dick Cheney’s daughters are having a heated disagreement over same-sex marriage that’s playing out on TV and Facebook.” — USA Today.
Lede that fizzles
“Wyoming Senate candidate Liz Cheney’s (R) opposition to gay marriage is drawing criticism from her lesbian sister.” — The Hill
Lede that tanks
“Following sister Liz Cheney’s decision to publicly her opposition to same-sex marriage, Mary Cheney and her wife, Heather Poe, have taken to Facebook and written a public response.” — Salon.